Side-spring vehicle-gear.



PATENTED APR. 7, 1908.;

0. A. BBHLEN.

SIDE SPRING VEHICLE GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED 312F123, 1907.

.2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED APR. 7, 1908.

C. A. BEHLEN. SIDE SPRING VEHICLE GEAR. APPLICATION FILED Barr. 3. 1007.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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ever, that various changes ma UNITED sin rns PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. BEHLEN, OF DURHAM, CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR TO DURHAMEBUGGY COMPANY, OF DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, A CORPORATION OF NORTH CAROLINA.

SIDE-SPRING VEHICLE-GEAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 7, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. BEHLEN, of Durham, Durham county, North Carolina, have invented a new and useful-SideSpring Vehicle-Gear, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accom any1ng drawings, forming part of this speci cation, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle gear embodying my invention; Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are detail views showing different forms of the connecting arm; Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views showing modified forms of the side sprin s; and Fig. 8 is an end view showing a mo fied form of the elevator bar.

My invention has relation to side spring vehicle gears of that class in which reach connections are employed, and is designed to provide a gear of this character 'havin means for keeping the gearin track, an which will obviate the use of swinging or sliding couplings, and equalizers; also to provide means for reventing the reaches from bowing, when t e springs are in action.

The precise nature of myinvention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, it being premised, howbe made in the details thereof by those skil ed in the art, without departing from my invention, as defined in the claims.

In these drawings, 2 designates the side s rings which may be of any usual or suitable orm. In Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, I have shown them as being of the usual continuous laminated form; in Fig. 6 these springs are also shown as of laminated forms, but divided each into two sections. Fig. 7 .illustrates a compound form of spring of well known type.

3 designates transverse rods or bars whose shouldered ends 4 are en aged with eyes 5 at the ends of stra s 6 w ch are clip ed or otherwise secure to the central portions of the springs 2, and which serve to. hold the gear 1n square.

7 designates reach rods; 8 designates the rear axle, and 9 the front axle.

' 10 is the bolster.

The rear ends of the side springs are connected to the rear axle 8 by means of pins 11 extending through .eyes or heads 12 on the ends of the springs which journal in the raise shackles clipped, or otherwise secured, to'the axle. The front end of each spring has connected thereto an upwardly and forwardlyextending arm-13. In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this arm has an eye 14 at its lower end which is closely fitted in an open head 15 on the end of the spring in a manner to prevent backward movement of said arm beyond the position shown. Fig. 3 shows this arm in a reverse position and secured in the same manner as in Fig. 2, but with a projecting lug or shoulder 16 which enga es'the top of the spring and firmly braces t e. arm against backward movement. Fig. 4 shows the arm attached in'the same manner as in Fig. 3, but with the arm in the position shown in Fig. 2. In Fig. 5, the arm is rigidly connected to the end of the spring by the rivets 17. The free upper ends of the arms 13 are formed with eyes 18 which journal on an elevator bar or rod 19 which is supported on the bolster 10 by a metal yoke 20.

In the modification shown in Fig. 8, the eyes 18 are journaled in shackles 21 which are clipped or otherwise secured to the ends of a wooden elevator bar 22- which is bolted or otherwise secured to the bolster 10.

By reference to Fig. -2, it will be'seen that the front end of the springs are, by reason of the arms 13, connected-at points considerably higher than the rear ends of said springs, the elevator bar being preferably to such an extent, that the eyes 18 will be substantially in the lane of the top of the central portions of t e side sprin s. By reason of this manner of connecting t e springs at their front ends, it will be seen t at when the springs are in action, the tendency is for their rear arms to become longer, while the front armsshorten that is to say, the, distance between the center of the side spring and the rear axle becomes relatively greater than the distance between the center of the side spring and the front axle. This results in an equalizing action which relieves the gear from strain, especially at the points where the arms 13 are connected to the elevator bar, and also effectively prevents any bowin of the reach rods.

Wh' e I have shown and described the use of the connectin arms as being preferably at the front end 0 the gear, they may, if preferred, be used at the rear ends of the side springs. It will also be understood that the invention is applicable to various forms of A side spring gears.

to the gear above oneof the axles; substantially as described.

2. Ina side spring vehicle gear, aside erunningear at a point'below the top of the 'centra portion of the .spring, and its "other end-'connectedto the'running gear at a point substantially in theplane of the top of V the central portion of the spring the connec ring having one of its ends'connected to 1 tion between the spring and the running gear being formed by a member which is rigidly connected to the spring against movement in one direction, but is free to move in the opposite direction; substantially'as described. 3. In a side spring vehicle gear, a side spring, a connecting arm attached to the forward end of said sprin and free to move forwardly but rigid in so ar as backward move- "'ment is concerned, and an elevator bar to which said arm is journaled at its upper end; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof; I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES A. BEHLEN. R Witnesses:

W. T. MINOR,

' JOHN I. Rose. 

